Orig Japanese Woodblock Print Book MAP OF WORLD c1790
Pricing & History
-
Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Sold Date
- Source eBay
Rare & original Japanese woodblock print book, ATLAS & ENCYCLOPEDIA, c1790s. Volume measures 7 3/4 X 10 1/4 inches (closed) and has 710 pages, including a rare early complete double page MAP OF THE WORLD w/ DUTCH TRADING SHIPS & what appears to be a HOT AIR BALLOON. This is the earliest example of a Japanese woodblock of a manned balloon flight I have come across. The first successful manned flight took place in Paris in 1783, not long before this volume was printed, making this a very rare image. A superb double page MAP OF JAPAN from CHOSEN (Korea) to EZO (early undeveloped Hokkaido) with 16 cartouches of foreigners surrounding Japan. This was in reference to the fact that Japan was still isolated and had very little direct contact with the outside world. The foreigners depicted are both real & imagined: DUTCH TRADERS; CHINESE, PEOPLE OF CHOSEN (Korea); LITTLE PEOPLE; GIANTS; PEOPLE w/ LONG ARMS; CANNIBALS etc. These were the "barbarians" of the outside world, all wanting to come to Japan with their strange customs & cultures. This both interested and frightened the Japanese at this time and may be why the woodblocks of the foreigners were placed around the Map of Japan and not the World Map. There are also double page maps of EDO, OSAKA, & KYOTO. There are sections on ARMOR, WEAPONS, etc, with many small woodcuts throughout the
read more
Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.
If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.